Supplementary Memorandum submitted by
the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (R43)
INTRODUCTION: DEPARTMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. This Supplementary Memorandum responds
to the Committee's request for evidence on "the issues raised
by segregation of genetically modified crops" which are within
the competence of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
(MAFF). It complements the original Memorandum submitted by the
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary
of State for Health and the separate Memorandum submitted by the
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR).
2. MAFF's agricultural interest in GM crops
lies in their potential to contribute positively to agricultural
production, and in their potential impact on other crops and the
agricultural environment. This includes questions such as the
risk of GM plants becoming agricultural weeds, the impact of the
use of GM crops on farming practice, and wider questions about
the food supply chain.
3. The Food Standards Agency will shortly
take over most of the existing functions of MAFF and the Department
of Health in relation to food safety and standards. It will be
responsible for all aspects of the food safety of GM foods and
feedingstuffs and will be advised by the Advisory Committee on
Novel Foods and Processes and the Advisory Committee on Animal
Feedingstuffs.
4. This Memorandum sets out steps which
MAFF has been taking in encouraging the industry to address the
supply chain issues arising in growing GM crops on the farm, including
identity preservation. It reviews action taken to address cross-pollination
and to tackle the concerns of the organic sector. It also explains
the strategic role to be played by the new Agricultural and Environmental
Biotechnology Commission (AEBC).
MAFF ENCOURAGEMENT
FOR GUIDELINES
ON GROWING
OF GM CROPS
5. MAFF believes that biotechnology can
make a significant contribution to agriculture and to the environment.
MAFF's policy is that UK industry should not be denied access
to the potential benefits of GM technology, but that all justified
concerns about it should be fully addressed. MAFF remains firmly
committed to science as the basis of its decision-making.
6. In July 1997 MAFF issued a discussion
paper on the management of GM crops on the farm. This provoked
widespread coment and there was a general view that the use of
these crops should be controlled in some way, at least for a period
of time. However, it was clear that powers for statutory regulation
of the growing of the crops did not exist. MAFF therefore encouraged
the industry to develop voluntary measures. The Supply Chain Initiative
on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC) was subsequently set up
and produced proposals in consultation with MAFF, interested statutory
bodies and Non-Governmental Organisations.
7. SCIMAC is a formal grouping of industry
organisations representing biotechnology companies, plant breeders,
the seed and distribution trades and farmers with the declared
aim of "open, responsible and effective introduction of genetically
modified crops" into the UK.
8. SCIMAC launched its Stewardship Programme
on 21 May 1999 with the aim of ensuring that GM crops are carefully
controlled when they are grown on the farm. The Programme includes
a Code of Practice on the introduction of GM crops, which includes
steps to ensure identity preservation throughout the supply chain,
and Guidelines for growing herbicide tolerant crops. The Guidelines
are aimed at best practice in the growing of crops and include
provisions for:
— record keeping of plantings; and
— specified separation distances between
the new and conventional or organic crops.
The rules will be underpinned by a system of
legally binding contracts, independent enforcement and audit.
SCIMAC has made a commitment to review the controls in the light
of experience.
9. The Government has given its endorsement
to the SCIMAC guidelines. It believes further that they could
form the basis of legislation in the future, and is exploring,
at EU level, the scope for achieving this.
10. The DETR has also been working with
SCIMAC in setting up the farm scale evaluations on GM crops and
has covered these arrangements in its memorandum.
SEPARATION DISTANCES
AND POLLEN
TRANSFER
11. The SCIMAC Guidelines address the possibility
of cross-pollination between GM and conventional or organic crops
by laying down separation distances and specifying practical safeguards
to minimise spread of tolerance. The separation distances are
based on long-standing agricultural practice and scientific advice
in the production of high-quality seed crops, where genetic purity
is crucial. These separation distances have been shown to work
in many years of farming practice and the production of seed,
and their incorporation in the Guidelines will help ensure that
problems with cross-pollination are minimised.
12. There has been considerable publicity
recently following publication of research which shows that pollen
can be transported over several kilometres, particularly by bees.
This followed last year's announcement of Government-funded research
results indicating, from work at IACR Rothamsted, that bees deposit
most pollen on the next flower visited and that deposition declines
rapidly after this. Other MAFF-funded work at SCRI Invergowrie
found that insects could carry pollen over long distances (four
kilometres). MAFF has also funded a study on separation distances
by the John Innes Centre which reviewed scientifically-based practices.
All the evidence to date indicates that there is a rapid decrease
in possibility for cross-pollination over distance, and it is
therefore likely that there will only be very low levels of long-distance
pollination under normal farming conditions. The possible need
for further research and scope for review of the existing literature
is however accepted.
13. The Advisory Committee on Releases to
the Environment considers the issue of cross-pollination in deciding
whether to recommend approval of GMOs. The Committee takes into
account the possibility of gene transfer to other crops and wild
relatives, and the likely effects on other organisms.
14. There is concern from the organic sector
that organic crops may be affected if GM crops are grown nearby,
given that the standard for organic production rules out completely
the use of GMOs. Ministers accept that reasonable safeguards are
needed for organic production. MAFF has set up a dialogue involving
the GM and organic sectors to review the interface between GM
crops and organic farming, and discussions are continuing with
a view to identifying mutally acceptable safeguards.
AGRICULTURE AND
ENVIRONMENT BIOTECHNOLOGY
COMMISSION
15. The report of the Government's review
of the Advisory and Regulatory Framework for Biotechnology, published
on last May, announced two new strategic Commissions. One of these—the
Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC)—has
a remit to advise the Government on the "big picture"
on agricultural biotechnology, including questions of ethics and
public acceptability. The Commission is expected to start work
shortly and it seems likely that it will take an interest in the
continuing work on the segregation of GM crops.
14 January 2000
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